Friday, 19 May 2017

Sunshine Coast Canelands Subdivisions Under Fire

SUNSHINE COAST DAILY 19/05/2017 By Bill Hoffman

SUNSHINE
Coast Council has started action against two subdivision developments
on cane land north west of Bli Bli after complaints from an
environmentalist battling to save key habitat for rare native bird
species.

The
council's Development Audit and Response officer has investigated
four sites off Burtons Road which cuts a zig zag course through cane
land between the Bli Bli-Yandia Road and the Maroochy River and found
two which had breached the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014.

The
investigations were launched after Greg Roberts - an avid bird
expert, environmentalist and blogger - complained about four
subdivisions he alleged were in breach of both the planning scheme
and the SEQ Regional Plan.

Mr
Roberts has since written to divisional councillor Stephen Robinson
raising concerns about a further two sub divisions.

He
said he was gravely concerned at what appeared to be the accelerating
rate of subdivision for real estate being approved on cane farms in
the Maroochy River floodplain in areas.

Mr
Roberts said the affected areas were notoriously flood-prone.

"Apart
from the adverse social consequences of urban sprawl, the appeal of
the Sunshine Coast as a tourist destination will not be enhanced by
these developments,” he said.

"Moreover,
they threaten once thriving but rapidly shrinking populations of the
Eastern Grass Owl and other rare and threatened grassland birds.

"My
understanding is that these subdivisions do not accord at least with
the spirit - and seemingly the letter - of the council's Maroochy
Plan and the state government's South-East Queensland Regional Plan.”

Mr
Roberts' concerns have been heightened by the number of For Sale
signs going up on cane land properties and the expectations of
potential purchasers.

He
said significant areas had already been sacrificed to the Maroochy
River Golf Club development off the David Low Way at Bli Bli and the
proposed Sunshine Coast Airport redevelopment.

"Work
on some of the recently subdivided properties had to be suspended
following recent heavy rains as vehicles and bulldozers became bogged
in muddy quagmires,” he wrote in a letter to Cr Robison.

"A
2006 report by the CSIRO, Future Use of Sunshine Coast Cane
Landscapes, says 7,000ha - close to half the Maroochy River
floodplain - is poorly drained and flood-prone. Most of the
floodplain - 13,000ha between Yandina in the west and Marcoola on the
coast - is designated under the council's Maroochy Plan as a
Sustainable Cane Lands Precinct.

"The
plan says the existence of cane in these areas forms an important
part of the rural character of the shire. Urban uses and the
fragmentation of land holdings, other than to enhance their long-term
viability or provide for supporting infrastructure, "are not
considered desirable or consistent with the intent for this
precinct.”

Mr
Roberts said once healthy populations of Eastern Grass Owl,
Red-backed Buttonquail, King Quail, Lewin's Rail and several raptors
including Spotted Harrier in the Maroochy River floodplain were
shrinking rapidly.

FURTHER COMMENTWhile council action regarding the subdivisions is welcome, cracking down on the new landowners is locking the gate after the horse has bolted. The problem is not primarily what the landowners are doing on their land. Indeed, one new owner I spoke to seems to be environmentally aware and is keen to protect grassland habitat on his property. The problem is the Sunshine Coast Council approving the subdivisions in the first place, and continuing a policy of stripping away what is left of the Sunshine Coast's rural heartland.